Previews: Business as Usual

SOFTBALL

COACH: Glenn Moore (tenth year at BU, 388-199; and thirteenth overall, 505-224)

LAST YEAR: 40-22 (11-7, tied third in Big 12)

OUTLOOK: With ace pitcher Whitney Canion and the bulk of the hitting lineup returning, Baylor hopes to reach the World Series after making the NCAA Super Regional last season. Canion finished 27-17 and set a school record with 415 strikeouts. Baylor will once again have great team speed, but is looking for more power after hitting just thirty-one homers last season.

TOP RETURNERS: Whitney Canion, so., pitcher; Kayce Walker, so., outfielder; Tiffany Wesley, sr., outfielder; Nicole Wesley, sr., outfielder; Bree Hanafin, so., infielder; Megan Turk, so., infielder; Sydney Wilson, so., outfielder.

TOP NEWCOMERS: Courtney Repka, fr., pitcher; Holly Holl, fr., catcher; Kelsi Kettler, fr., infielder; Dani Leal, jr., infielder; Kathy Shelton, fr., infielder.

STRENGTHS: Pitching should once again be a major strength for Baylor with Canion back from a record-breaking freshman season and freshman Repka adding depth. The Lady Bears return a lot of experience in their hitting lineup with twins Tiffany and Nicole Wesley back for their senior years, and Hanafin, Walker, and Turk coming off outstanding freshman years. Junior college transfer Leal hopes to give Baylor much-needed power in the lineup.

BASEBALL

COACH: Steve Smith (sixteenth season at Baylor)

LAST YEAR: 30-26 (10-16 in the Big 12, eighth in the conference); reached NCAA regional in Baton Rouge, Louisiana

OUTLOOK: It was an uneven season for the Bears, who reached as high as fifth in the country in the national polls before a late-season swoon had them fighting for their playoff lives. The team lost some talent, with four juniors signing pro contracts, but still has a potentially formidable mix of holdover standouts and promising rookies. Baylor must pitch better after finishing with a 5.29 team ERA in 2009.

TOP RETURNERS: Willie Kempf, sr., right-handed pitcher; Raynor Campbell, sr., infielder; Craig Fritsch, jr., right-handed pitcher; Logan Verrett, so., right-handed pitcher; Joey Hainsfurther, so., infielder; Brooks Pinckard, so., outfielder; Dan Evatt, so., infielder; Shawn Tolleson, jr., right-handed pitcher; Gregg Glime, sr., catcher (pictured).

TOP NEWCOMERS: Josh Turley, fr., left-handed pitcher; Logan Vick, fr., outfielder; Max Muncy, fr., infielder; Cal Towey, redshirt-fr., infielder/outfielder.

STRENGTHS: Baylor should have its strongest senior class in several seasons with the likes of Kempf, Campbell, Glime, and outfielder Kenton Gedwed. The Bears also figure to benefit from a friendly schedule that includes eighteen straight home games to start the season.

MEN’S TENNIS

COACH: Matt Knoll (fourteenth season at BU, 312-76; and fifteenth overall, 320-92)

LAST YEAR: 26-6 (6-0, first in Big 12)

OUTLOOK: With a veteran squad, Matt Knoll should reach the NCAA tournament for the thirteenth straight time and have another shot at a national championship. Seniors Denes Lukacs, Dominik Mueller, and Attila Bucko and junior Jordan Rux will play key roles, while transfers Chris Gordon and Sergio Ramirez should add depth.

TOP RETURNERS: Attila Bucko, sr.; Denes Lukacs, sr.; Dominik Mueller, sr.; Jordan Rux, jr.; Julian Bley, so.; Maros Horny, so.

TOP NEWCOMERS: Chris Gordon, so.; Sergio Ramirez, jr.

STRENGTHS: After losing in the quarterfinals of the national tournament last year, Baylor should be primed for a deeper run this season. The Bears are stacked with veterans like Lukacs, Rux, Mueller, and Bucko. Lukacs should be one of the top players in the nation after an All-American season, while Rux is coming off a strong fall indoor season.

WOMEN’S TENNIS

COACH: Joey Scrivano (eighth season at BU, 219-67; eleventh overall, 279-85)

LAST YEAR: 27-5 (11-0, first in Big 12)

OUTLOOK: Following an NCAA Final Four appearance two years ago and an Elite Eight run last year, Baylor could be primed for its best year in school history with three dominating players returning. Baylor won its first-round nationals match over Stanford before losing a tough one to Notre Dame.

TOP RETURNERS: Lenka Broosova, sr.; Csilla Borsanyi, sr.; Jelena Stanivuk, jr.; Karolina Filipiak, jr.; Taylor Ormond, jr.; Nina Secerbegovic, so.

TOP NEWCOMER: Carla Lidlar, fr.